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FYI<br>
<br>
Suzanne L. Sager<br>
Oregon ALA Chapter Councilor<br>
<br>
-------- Original Message --------
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      <th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Subject: </th>
      <td>[alacro-l] Washington Office files comments to Department of
Commerce seeking improvements to BTOP application process</td>
    </tr>
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      <th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">Date: </th>
      <td>Wed, 2 Sep 2009 12:42:21 -0400</td>
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      <th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">From: </th>
      <td>Don Wood <a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:dwood@ala.org"><dwood@ala.org></a></td>
    </tr>
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      <th align="right" nowrap="nowrap" valign="baseline">To: </th>
      <td><a class="moz-txt-link-rfc2396E" href="mailto:alacro-l@ala.org"><alacro-l@ala.org></a></td>
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      <p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The
American Library Association (ALA) Washington Office filed <a
 moz-do-not-send="true"
 href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/wp-content/uploads/2009/09/LetterToGwellnarBanks-Aug311.pdf">comments</a>
to the U.S. Department of Commerce yesterday, regarding requirements
for information collection under the first-round Notice of Funds
Availability (NOFA) for the National Telecommunications and Information
Administration’s (NTIA) Broadband Technology Opportunities Program
(BTOP). The ALA applauds NTIA for the creation of BTOP in only several
months after passage of the ARRA. However, the compressed time frame
resulted in an application process that needs improvement.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
      <p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";">The
comments outline how the application process restricts the opportunity
to describe the substantive aspects of a proposed project while also
mandating excessive, often redundant requirements for information
collection. The Washington Office’s comments set forth recommendations
for changes to the next NOFA to address these matters as well as other
issues, such as improvements needed for the online application process.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<p><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><br>
<a moz-do-not-send="true"
 href="http://www.wo.ala.org/districtdispatch/?p=3573">View article...</a><o:p></o:p></span></p>
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<br>
<div class="moz-signature">-- <br>
<img alt="Portland State University logo"
 src="cid:part1.06070201.01070601@pdx.edu" align="left" height="35"
 width="165"><br>
<br>
<p
 style="font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Suzanne
L. Sager<br>
Library East, Cataloging<br>
Portland State University<br>
<br>
503-725-8169<br>
503-725-5799<br>
<a class="moz-txt-link-abbreviated" href="mailto:sagers@pdx.edu">sagers@pdx.edu</a></p>
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